Hindrance of the procedure of licensing enterprises, unreasonably high export duties, contradictions between established business rules – these are major difficulties for Canadian entrepreneurs working in Ukraine. At least it was these problems that Canada’s Premier of Alberta (10% of whose population are of Ukrainian descent) Ralph Klein discussed with President Leonid Kuchma and leaders of Ukrainian government in course of his three days official visit to Ukraine. According to Premier Klein, President Kuchma told him that as soon as the newly elected parliament solves the issue of electing its speaker, it would start work to make business conditions in Ukraine more favorable for Canadian entrepreneurs. Mr. Klein, in his turn, stated that after returning to Canada he will assure everybody that “the problems in Ukraine are being solved, and the potential for cooperation, which ought to be used, is immense.” The highest priority for cooperation between Ukraine and Alberta, in Mr. Klein’s view, is energy: oil production, processing, and transport. In his words, Alberta supplies about 80% of Canada’s demand for energy. Also, the Alberta premier sees great prospects in the agricultural sphere. In his words, Alberta can provide Ukraine with support in working out mechanisms to finance farming, optimum land tenure technologies, and irrigation. Ralph Klein also signed a memorandum in Kyiv on mutual understanding between Alberta and the International Financial Corporation on aid to Ukraine in reforming its agricultural sector. The Premier of Alberta informed journalists about the creation of a special fund, which is to provide in the next five years $150,000 Canadian ($100,000 US) to promote cooperation in the sphere of education. “These assets will be aimed at teacher exchanges and improving the teaching of the Ukrainian language in Alberta schools,” Mr. Klein said. “In Edmonton and its vicinities alone there are up to fifteen schools teaching Ukrainian.”
